If you ever wanted to see Arizona Wildcats football coach Mike Stoops swing a tennis racket, today is your day.
The same goes for former tennis stars Mats Wilander and Aaron Krickstein — though we'd like to see them plan a defense to stop USC.
Today marks the third annual Gootter Grand Slam, which features an exhibition between the two former pros and a doubles match that includes Wilander and Krickstein, Stoops and a winner from the silent auction and Saturday night's gala.
Here are five good reasons to run out and watch some tennis:
● It's for a good cause. In 2005, Steven Gootter died at 42 of sudden cardiac death. He didn't smoke. He was an athlete, having won the state doubles title at Tucson High School. His friends and family created the Steven M. Gootter Foundation, which funds research at the UA's Sarver Heart Center. The foundation's ultimate goal is to raise enough money to endow a chair at the UA.
People are also reading…
"That's our only hope — that we can prevent this from happening to someone else," said Shari Gootter, Steven's sister. "My brother was the most exceptional individual and was so full of life and energy."
● They're making headway. The Gootter Foundation raised about a half-million dollars in the first two years of the event. This year's goal is $275,000 — though Shari Gootter said the all-volunteer group wants more. "We're going for $300,000," she said. "We're getting close."
● The pros are stars. Wilander, a Swede, won seven Grand Slam singles titles. In 1988, he won the Australian, French and U.S. Opens and was the top-ranked player in the world. Krickstein is the younger player to win an ATP Tour event — at age 16 — who spent five years in the top 10 during his 13-year career.
● There's other stuff to do, too. Today's event features a wellness fair plus live music, food and drink.
● Did we mention it was for a good cause? Sudden cardiac death kills more people than cancer and AIDS combined. Shari Gootter said she and her friends and family like to think they're turning her brother's death into a positive.
"How can you take something so tragic and turn anything good out of it?" she said. "That's what we're trying to do."
IF YOU GO
• What: Gootter Grand Slam Pro Exhibition
• When: Today at 10 a.m.
• Where: Randolph Tennis Center
• Who: Mats Wilander vs. Aaron Krickstein; also a doubles match which features the two and UA football coach Mike Stoops
• Tickets: $25
• On the web: www.stevenmgootterfoundation.org
Ex-Arizona Wildcat's college basketball earnings prove anything goes | Greg Hansen
